Russia's role with World Bank in reverse

MOSCOW, June 17 (UPI) -- Russia's relationship with global financial institutions is flipping around from recipient of aid to donor, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said.

Zoellick's visits with Russian leaders Monday was marked by mutual compliments and discussions on how Russia can contribute to the bank's recently announced drive to raise $1.2 billion to fight global hunger, The Moscow Times reported.

Russia is considering donating between $50 million and $100 million to the fund, a source close to the discussions told the Times.

"It's a very interesting time for Russian and its relations with the bank," Zoellick told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin Monday.

Medvedev, in turn, noted improvements at the bank under Zoellick's leadership, the Times reported.

The World Bank "is now focused on the aims of its charter to a significantly greater degree, and the program adopted under your leadership facilitates the goals of the global development," Medvedev said.